APSU Track and Field heads to East Tennessee State this weekend

Austin Peay Sports Information

Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University women’s track and field shakes off the rust and returns to action this weekend at the ETSU Track and Field Invitational, hosted by East Tennessee State University at the David E. Walker Track at Gentry Field inside the ETSU/MSHA Mini-Dome in Johnson City, TN.

In just two meets, Austin Peay athletes picked up five track victories, most exemplary among them perhaps coming from senior Erika Adams. The Weston, FL, native hit her own school record in the 60m dash at the season-opening Music City Challenge, winning the event with a 7.65 mark.

Junior Breigh Jones nearly equaled her school-record in the 400m at Middle Tennessee, but settled for the victory thanks to a 55.29 run and adidas®/Ohio Valley Conference Co-Female Track Athlete of the Week honors. She ranks first in the OVC and ninth nationally in the 400m entering the weekend.

“Very proud of Breigh for earning OVC honors,” said head coach Doug Molnar. “It’s important to get out to a great start, and I felt like all of our sprinters did a great job in the early season.”

Jones, senior Maikea Davis, sophomore Terri Morris and freshman Sonja White rank second in the 4x400m relay thanks to a 3:52.52 run at Middle Tennessee that nearly toppled a Blue Raider squad that placed third in the Sun Belt last season.

Jones’ classmate Kymmalett Ross stands to make a leap during indoor season. Her 200m dash at the Middle Tennessee Christmas Invite not only won the event and leads the OVC, but the 24.63 mark – one-tenth of a second behind Davis’ school-record – ranks 25th in the nation coming into the weekend. She’s also ranked 27th nationally in the 400m thanks to a 56.44 run at Vanderbilt.

Senior Jessica Gray also finds herself on the national lists entering the weekend; she leads the OVC and ranks 44th with a 2:16.54 mark after winning the 800m at Middle Tennessee. In longer distances, freshman Sarah-Emily Woodward leads the OVC in the 3000m run thanks to a 10:56.71 in Murfreesboro, TN.

Austin Peay’s field athletes earned their share of praise, especially a precocious jumps group. Sophomores Kaylnn Pitts (11.94m) and Chancis Jones (11.92m) rank first and second in the conference in the triple jump, with Jones also ranking second in the long jump with a 5.59m leap at Middle Tennessee.

Two freshmen field athletes to keep an eye on are Keyondria Ross and Gretchen Rosch. Ross, younger sister to Kymmalett, is third in the OVC in the high jump following a 1.61m mark in her first career meet, while Rosch posted a 3.20m mark at Middle Tennessee, ranking her fourth.

“It’s great to get back back into competition after such a long lay-off,” Molnar said. “This weekend will tell us whether everyone stayed in shape and worked hard during the holidays. I believe everyone is committed to making this a great season and that this weekend will be just the beginning.”

Track and field continues its indoor season next weekend at the Gladstein Invitational.